As British leave Basra, militias dig in

One commander, who asked not to be named, carefully looked over a list of detainees until he found Sajad's name. He commands fighters in the city's Garmat Ali section. His arrest last year was hailed as a coup by British forces during their offensive against militias in the city as part of Operation Sinbad that lasted from September 2006 to March 2007.Now, as the British prepare for departure, Sajad was freed.

"The arrests did not stop the rockets, nor did the rockets defeat the British," said the security source. "We needed to find an alternative solution that would calm things down a bit."

The palaces that the British will vacate have been the target of constant rocket and mortar attacks, which have declined over the past 10 days.

The British military in Basra denied interview requests. In an e-mail, spokesman Maj. Mike Shearer did not comment on whether the military was aware of, or involved in, a prisoner release in exchange for a suspension of attacks. He said that British forces have held more than 2,250 Iraqi suspects since Jan. 1, 2004, including the 26 transferred to the Iraqi court system. They have released all but 80 prisoners.

The Iraqi official said releasing Mahdi Army fighters – combined with the absence of an excuse for militias to launch attacks on the palace – would give Lt. Gen. Mohan Hafidh, head of the Basra Operations Center appointed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, enough breathing room to stabilize the province.

But the PJCC left by the British Saturday was the scene of a four-hour looting spree Sunday, according to security officials.

"We will lessen the attacks against them [the British] and we will stop altogether if they release all our prisoners," said one of the Mahdi Army leaders at the Friday meeting. A colleague, who appeared more senior, disagreed: "The resistance will continue until the last soldier leaves Basra."

Indeed, overall attacks against British forces have increased despite the gradual decline in troop numbers. This year, 41 soldiers have died, compared with 29 in all of 2006.

Although members of the Mahdi Army pledge allegiance to Sadr, many operate according to conflicting agendas and some are linked to Iran, according to security officials. Last week, efforts by police chief Maj. Gen. Jalil Khalaf to hem in the notoriously corrupt and militia-controlled intelligence and criminal investigation units of the police force were met with protests and threats. There have already been two attempts on his life since Mr. Maliki appointed him three months ago.

A candidate for the same post at the time said the Mahdi Army is the most formidable force in the province. He said that he was visited by five militia leaders who told him: "We will support you but people should know you are with us."

On the streets, there is a sense of jubilation and victory over British forces. In central Arousa Square, a street was renamed after the "martyr Jaafar Muhammad," killed in clashes with the British. "He's one of my guys. One of the valiant heroes of the Imam Mahdi Army," says a bearded company commander who gave his name as Uncle Abed. "God has blessed us with victory over the occupation."

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